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New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani released a video on Sunday outlining the rights of New Yorkers in meetings with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after an attempted raid in Manhattan, promising that his administration would protect immigrant communities while protecting the city’s constitutional right to protest.
The video comes as New York’s immigration authorities face renewed scrutiny, highlighting how Mamdani plans to address federal actions that he says threaten immigrant communities and require New Yorkers to be prepared, informed and confident in asserting their legal rights.
In the video, Mamdani begins by discussing an ICE raid last weekend in Manhattan aimed at arresting immigrants.
“As mayor, I will protect the rights of every New Yorker, including the more than 3 million immigrants who call this city home,” he said. “But we can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.”
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New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference in the Queens borough of New York, Wednesday, November 5, 2025. (Heather Khalifa/AP Photo)
He then offered advice for immigrants who might encounter ICE.
“First, ICE cannot enter private spaces like your home, your school, or the private space of your workplace without a court warrant signed by a judge,” Mamdani advised. “If ICE does not have a court warrant signed by a judge, you have the right to say, ‘I do not consent to entry,’ and the right to keep your door closed.'”
He noted that ICE can present documents asserting authority to make an arrest, but said “that’s false.”
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“ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent,” the mayor-elect said. “If you are detained, you can always ask: ‘Am I free to go?’ » repeatedly until they answer you.
Mamdani also said people are “legally allowed to film” ICE agents as long as they don’t interfere with an arrest.
“It is important to remain calm during any interaction with ICE or law enforcement. Do not obstruct their investigation, resist arrest, or flee,” he said.
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New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, left, and President Donald Trump are seen during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, November 21, 2025. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Mamdani concluded by emphasizing New Yorkers’ constitutional right to protest.
“New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest, and when I am mayor, we will protect that right,” he said. “New York will always welcome immigrants and I will fight every day to protect, support and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters.”
The video comes more than two weeks after the mayor-elect met with President Donald Trump, appearing to forge a new path in their relationship as they found common ground on issues of affordability and improving conditions in New York.
Despite the encounter, Mamdani reaffirmed New York’s status as a sanctuary city during a speech at a church in the Bronx.
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“I told the president directly that New Yorkers want to follow our city’s laws, and our city’s laws say that as part of our sanctuary city policies, the city government can liaise with the federal government on about 170 serious crimes,” Mamdani said last month. “The concern extends beyond these crimes to the many New Yorkers who are arrested, detained, deported for the crime of appearing regularly in court.”
“My goal as the next mayor of this city will be to protect the immigrants who live in this city,” added the mayor-elect.
